Pearpop Expands Social Media Collaboration to Instagram

Pearpop Expands Collaboration Marketplace to Instagram and Beyond

Pearpop, a platform designed to facilitate social media collaborations, is now accessible to Instagram users. Previously, the service was exclusively available to creators on TikTok. This marketplace enables both creators and brands to engage in paid partnerships with prominent celebrities and influential figures.

Further expansion is planned, with Twitter access arriving later this month and Twitch integration scheduled for December. The Instagram launch followed an initial, limited release in early October.

Rapid Adoption on Instagram

Pearpop reports that over 10,000 Instagram creators have already joined the platform in under a month since the soft launch. The company highlights that making Pearpop available on Instagram was the most frequently requested feature from its user base, with over 90% of current Pearpop creators already utilizing the platform.

Notable early participants in the Instagram offering include celebrities such as Post Malone, Jake Paul, Paris Hilton, Swae Lee, Tom Felton, and Noah Schnapp.

Addressing a Gap in the Creator Economy

According to Cole Mason, CEO and co-founder of Pearpop, the platform originated from a clear need in the market. A dedicated marketplace for creators of all sizes to generate revenue through mutually advantageous collaborations was lacking.

“My vision for Pearpop is to establish a social capital marketplace that empowers creators to grow their audience, earn income, and promote their work across various platforms,” Mason explained in a recent interview with TechCrunch. “We aim to shift the industry’s focus from platform-centric marketing to influence driven by individuals.”

A Growing Roster of Influencers

The concept has attracted a diverse group of personalities, including musicians like The Weeknd and The Chainsmokers, athletes, actors, entertainers such as Amy Schumer and Diddy, and business leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk and Mark Cuban.

Significant Funding and Investment

Pearpop secured $16 million in funding in April. This included a $6 million seed round led by Sound Ventures (Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary) and Slow Ventures, with contributions from Atelier Ventures and Chapter One Ventures. An additional $10 million investment was spearheaded by Seven Seven Six (Alexis Ohanian) and included participation from Bessemer.

Since the initial funding announcement, the company has welcomed several new angel investors, including Swae Lee, Noah Schnapp, Lil Nas X, Dre London, King Bach, Gabrielle Union, Jake Paul, YG, James Corden, and Paris Hilton.

Differentiating from Cameo

Comparisons have been drawn between Pearpop and Cameo, a platform where users can commission personalized videos from celebrities. However, Mason emphasizes a key distinction. “While other platforms primarily focus on personalized video messages for gifting purposes, Pearpop offers a more robust social media tool designed to help brands and creators achieve substantial objectives, such as maximizing people-driven influence.”

Future Plans and Vision

Looking ahead, Mason states that Pearpop will continue to expand its platform reach and refine existing features. One such feature, “Challenges,” incentivizes creators to promote a song by offering rewards for reaching specific follower milestones.

Pearpop’s ultimate goal is to recognize and empower all individuals as creators. “Currently, the term ‘creator’ often implies a large following – typically 50,000 or more. However, anyone who shares creative content and attracts viewership should have the opportunity to monetize their work. We believe that whether you have 100 followers or 50 million, you deserve to earn from your content,” Mason stated. “Our product development is centered around enabling this empowerment.”